ZACube-1

ZACube-1

Mission type	Space weather
Operator	Cape Peninsula University of Technology
COSPAR ID	2013-066B
SATCAT no.	39417
Website	www.cput.ac.za/fsati
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	1U CubeSat
Manufacturer	Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Launch mass	1.2 kilograms (2.6 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	21 November 2013, 07:10:17 (2013-11-21UTC07:10:17Z) UTC[1]
Rocket	Dnepr
Launch site	Dombarovsky 370/13
Contractor	Kosmotras
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee altitude	596 kilometres (370 mi)[2]
Apogee altitude	681 kilometres (423 mi)[2]
Inclination	97.75 degrees[2]
Period	97.36 minutes[2]
Epoch	24 January 2015, 03:15:51 UTC[2]

ZACube-1 (TshepisoSat),^[3] is a South African CubeSat that carries a high frequency beacon transmitter to be used for space weather research. It was launched 21 November 2013 on a Dnepr launch vehicle from Yasny, Russia. Tshepiso is the seSotho word for promise.

Objectives

ZACube-1 carried a high frequency beacon transmitter and a low-resolution CMOS camera in order to perform space weather research, support education and training, enable technology demonstration, and serve as a catalyst for the national nano-satellite programme.^[4] The satellite was launched in a Dnepr from the Dombarovsky, which can be found at the following coordinates: 50°48′0″N 059°31′0″E / 50.80000°N 59.51667°E / 50.80000; 59.51667 (Dombarovsky (air base))^[5]

See also

• SUNSAT, first South African satellite
• SumbandilaSat, second South African satellite
• List of CubeSats

References

External links

• French South African Institute of Technology (Spacecraft operator)
• Cape Peninsula University of Technology
• South African National Space Agency (SANSA)